Prof Chris Imafidon Salutes John Healey's Military Unicorn Program, but Calls for UK "Cyber Force"

SOUTH KENSINGTON, U.K. - Jan. 28, 2026 - PRLog -- Professor Chris Imafidon, AI governance pioneer and executive board‑level advisor, has thrown his support behind new UK plans to develop "unicorn"‑level entrepreneurs from military technology start‑ups, while renewing his call for a dedicated "Cyber Force" as a fourth arm of the armed forces.

Sitting near Rt Hon John Healey, UK Defence Secretary, for over 2 hours during a yesterday's House of Commons Defence Committee hearing, Prof Imafidon, closely followed the detailed questioning on the future of Britain's defence. At the end of the intense session, he personally congratulated Defence Secretary Healey and General (Dame) Sharon Nesmith, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, for their leadership at what he described as "one of the most dangerous times for national and global security." "One of the toughest jobs  is maintaining defence and security at these terrible times," says Imafidon.

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A long‑standing mentor to unicorn tech founders, Prof Imafidon endorsed the emerging drive to nurture high‑growth entrepreneurs from the UK's military technology ecosystem. He praised Secretary Healey's focus on converting defence innovation into scalable businesses and pledged to support the initiative:

Prof Imafidon,  chairs of www.ExcellenceinEducation.org.uk argued that the UK's future economic strength and security will increasingly depend on mission‑driven founders who can turn defence‑grade research, AI and deep‑tech capabilities into world‑class companies, jobs and exports. He stressed that unlocking this potential requires deliberate mentoring, board‑level guidance and a culture that treats military innovation as a springboard for global entrepreneurship.

Concluding, Prof Imafidon renewed his proposal for an independent arm of the armed forces – separate from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force – dedicated to cyber operations. He called this new pillar the "Cyber Force" countering cyber‑attacks and persistent digital vulnerabilities across government, finance, health, and critical infrastructure prove that the digital realm is now a primary battlefield.

Professor Imafidon's stance reflects his wider work advising chairs, non‑executive directors and senior legislators on governing AI and emerging technologies responsibly, while turning them into strategic assets for security and growth. Known for his self‑deprecating and humble style, he seldom mentions his invitations from Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to high‑profile national events, his role as Co‑Chair of the HM Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Programme; or his bestselling and award‑winning books on Queen Elizabeth II or Princess Diana - the first AI co-authored books by fireflies.ai, though have significantly enhanced his standing. https://excellenceineducation.org.uk/